“And your father?”
“I don’t know.” She met Kendra’s eyes. “I never looked back.”
The words were clear and bold and yet held a hint of poignancy, Kendra thought. Or perhaps she was reading something that wasn’t there into them. Maybe that was Margaret’s philosophy of life.
“And what happened to the couple that you lived with during those years?”
“Bill and Laura had a few problems, but we straightened them out, and now they’re living happily ever after.”
“Do you see them?”
“Sometimes. But they’re better off without me. I’m not cut out for happily ever after.” She took out her cell phone and glanced at it. “I got another call from Jane while I was asleep.” She didn’t listen to the voice mail as she gazed at Kendra. “I’m not going to ignore another call just because it’s hard for me to deal with. I only did it because I was hoping that maybe no one would tell her about Goldfork since she was in the hospital and couldn’t do anything about it.”
“Well, evidently Venable wasn’t in a protective mood when he heard about the blowup there. He wanted answers, and he went to Jane to see if she could get them for him.” Kendra frowned. “And he didn’t believe me when I told him we hadn’t found anything. So we’ll probably have him on our trail right away.”
“But you told him where we were going anyway.”
“That was about Eve. I didn’t have a right to keep anything about the search from him. The journal … I don’t know. That may be another story and not one Venable was entirely honest about.” She glanced down at the journal. “And I think we should get this out of our hands and into a safe place as soon as we reach Mineral County. It may not only be Blick who wants to get hold of it.”
“Okay.” Margaret took the journal. “But I want to read it cover to cover before we get there. It’s pretty rambling, but there may be something that will strike a note. Maybe not immediately but when I look back on it.”
“I should do that.”
“Because you have such a fantastic memory and can put everything together and come out with dazzling answers?” Margaret asked. “And I’m just a kid who you don’t trust to remember how to tie the laces on her own tennis shoes?”
“Yes.”
“Then pull over and let me drive. We’ll take turns at the wheel while the other one sleeps. Not that you’ll sleep right now. You can do the first read of the journal.” She smiled. “I don’t mind your being the dazzling one. Though I should tell you that I probably have a better memory than you do. You were trained by your blindness. I was trained by having to remember obscure trails and animals and having to put all of the signs together during very distracting circumstances. Often when I was on the run. Ever been chased by a bull moose?”
“No.” Kendra pulled over to the side of the road. “I’ve never had that privilege. I’m not looking forward to it in the future.” She smiled faintly. “And you almost had me convinced how superior you might be until I remembered what you said about my not thinking you could remember to tie the laces on your tennis shoes.” She came around the car and opened the passenger door for Margaret to get out of the car. “You’re not even wearing tennis shoes even though it’s cold as hell here in Colorado right now. You’re still wearing those stupid leather thongs.”
“Oops.” Margaret gazed ruefully down at her feet. “I meant to change. I just didn’t seem to have the time. Things were happening.”
“I’m sure they were.” Explosions and bullets flying and Margaret keeping calm and steady through it all. “But you have time now. Get those tennis shoes out of your suitcase and put them on before you start driving.”
“Good idea.” She reached into the backseat. “Thanks for reminding me.”
No resentment. Someone else might have been a little annoyed to be told what to do, Kendra thought. Yet there was no lack of self-respect or independence in Margaret’s attitude. She was beginning to realize that the girl was unique in a multitude of ways and possessed an inner strength that was fairly incredible.
Then why the hell did Kendra still feel the need to protect and guide her?
“There.” Margaret double-tied the second New Balance shoe and jumped out of the car. “That feels better.” She grinned knowingly at Kendra. “And it will make you feel better, won’t it?”
Kendra didn’t answer directly. “It’s much more sensible. I can’t see how you could stand traipsing around in this weather with feet that were practically bare.”
“I just close it out.” Margaret ran around the car and slipped into the driver’s seat. “And keep moving. That’s the trick. You just keep moving.” She looked out the windshield at the snow-covered mountains in the distance. “But it would be harder up there. I hope Eve isn’t…” She shook her head. “Wishful thinking doesn’t do any good. Jane says Eve is strong. She’ll do what she has to do.” She started the car. “And so will we. Right, Kendra?”
Kendra’s gaze followed hers to the mountains, then she glanced down at the journal on her lap. We. The inference of togetherness was both clear and deliberate. Margaret wanted a commitment. What the hell. Why not give it to her? It could be an uneasy partnership, but she was beginning to believe that Margaret would never fail her when the chips were down. “Right, Margaret. That’s the only thing we can do.”
She opened the journal and began to read.
Gwinnett Hospital
“MINERAL COUNTY.” JANE repeated with frustration, her hand tightening on the phone. “Where in Mineral County, Venable?”
“Kendra said she’d be in touch.”
“Great. She didn’t answer my calls. Neither did Margaret.”
“They still consider you on the disabled list. They didn’t want to worry you. Kendra didn’t like it one bit that I called you and told you about Goldfork.” He paused. “But I think that more happened there than she told me about. If you do get in touch with her, you might ask a few questions.”
“Count on it. And I’ll probably ask them in person. I should be discharged sometime before noon today. It would be sooner, but it’s hard to get hold of doctors early in the day. Caleb has been trying to get them here to check me, but it’s been like pulling teeth.”
“Wait a minute. Quinn will kill me if I caused you to break out of there.”
“I’m not breaking out. I’m getting a clean bill of health from my doctors. I’ve just got an okay from one of them. As soon as Caleb manages to get the other two specialists here, it will be all over. They’ll all talk and argue, then decide to let me out of here.”
“You seem very certain.”
“I’m certain. I feel great, and they’re not going to find any excuse to keep me here.” She paused. “But you might wait until tomorrow before you tell Joe I’ve left the hospital.”
“He’d come after me with a hatchet,” Venable said flatly. “I’ll call the hospital myself and get a report. If what you say checks out, I’ll wait for a few hours. Besides, I need to know what’s happening at Zander’s place in Vancouver.”
“Joe is in Vancouver? You didn’t mention that little fact, Venable.”
“Kendra and Margaret didn’t think I was protecting you, but there were some things you didn’t have to know.”
She tried to smother the surge of impatience at his words. The entire world seemed to be in a conspiracy to keep her safe and ignorant when her neck should have been on the line like the rest of their necks were. “I don’t like the idea that he’s trying to deal with Zander by himself. Joe is in aggressive mode. Can’t you call Zander and—”
“Zander’s not answering. This seems to be my day for being ignored. Though that’s not at all unusual for Zander.” He added, “Look, Quinn wants cooperation from Zander. He won’t be too violent.”
“Maybe. I’ll call him once I’m on the road and talk to him.”
Silence. “You’re not fooling yourself that you’re well because you want to get into the action?”